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The major axis of an ellipse is its longest diameter, a line that runs through the center and both foci, its ends being at the widest points of the shape.

The semi-major axis is one half of the major axis, and thus runs from the centre, through a focus, and to the edge of the ellipse. It represents a "long radius" of the ellipse, and is the "average" distance of an orbiting planet or moon from its parent body.

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12y ago

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The distance from one of the foci to the center of the ellipse divided by the eccentricity.

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15y ago
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Q: What is also known as the semimajor axis?
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